The Gift

For DoDo's birthday I made her a blanket with all of our names on it. I pieced the squares together and put fleece on the back of the blanket for warmth. Well that and I had no clue what else to do on the back. My friend Jennifer embroidered all of the names for me. She did an amazing job and if you ever need something embroidered I highly recommend her!

Any ways that is all for today...

Have a fantastic day!!! I am off to start another project.....

DoDo turned 80!!!

My grandmother turned 80 last Saturday and we all came to surprise her.

Here is how it went down....

After planning the party for a year it all went as planned and she had no idea about any of it.

First my Uncle Dummie (I was told to call him this when I was younger and it stuck) and Aunt Lana came in on Friday. They were sitting at the table at my Aunt Sheri's and when DoDo saw them she dropped her new purse (that she opened BEFORE her birthday) on the floor and screamed. And if you know DoDo she probably cried too...

We arrived Saturday morning. We hid the truck in the shop because we figured with the Texas license plate, red truck, and the motorcycle chilling in the back it might give us away. So we were sitting in the kitchen of my Aunt Sheri's house my cousin Tim and his wife Kacie were talking so DoDo wouldn't hear our voices. When she walked through and finally saw us she hit the counter, hard, with the paper she was holding and screamed again. Oh and cried can't forget the crying.

OK here is the story they had been telling her. They (my aunt and uncle and cousins) were taking her to Columbia, the big town an hour away, to eat at Hu Hots. When the real plans were to have a surprise party right up the road from my Aunt's house. SOOOOO

DoDo leaves Aunt Sheri's house to get ready to go to Columbia, she leaves about 2 and we weren't leaving until 5:30, do you think she was a little excited? Well we are all talking about the party and how we think we have pulled it all off when who comes driving back up to the house, yep you guessed it DoDo. Now we are freaking out to say the least and trying to figure out how to get her back to her house. When Lana, who is an AMAZING liar convinced DoDo to leave with them.

So we arrive at Noland's Catering for the party. About 60 people came to celebrate with us. I saw people to this day I have no clue who they are but I am sure glad they came! Uncle Dummie and Lana bring DoDo to Noland's by telling her they have to pick up a cake for dinner in Columbia. When she walked in this was her face....(Sorry it was far away...I was in the corner)

After she walked in and cried!!! We ate dinner it was delicious!!! (I highly recommend Noland's Catering if you are ever in need of catering and in Macon, Missouri!!!!)

After dinner everyone started, well continued talking and I helped Danny and Cindy (my cousins) wash dishes. They thought I was doing it to be nice and helpful. But we all know I did it so I wouldn't have to talk to strangers.

DoDo had a great time and so did we!

The rest of the week flew by way to fast...

We had absolutely nothing planned other then the boys riding the motorcycles all around Missouri. Apparently Missouri is beautiful with gorgeous hills and curvy roads, but how would I know my father never took me on a ride. I'm not bitter at all, I promise... ok well maybe a little but next time I'm asking Uncle Bernie to take me on a ride!!!!

On Tuesday the boys wanted to go on a long ride and meet us in Hermann (my new favorite town in the US) so we all went down. My cousin Tim and his wife Kacie live in that adorable town, that I am seriously considering opening a bed and breakfast in! Kacie took us girls to a winery, my first wine tasting, and I'm not gonna lie when I say I officially like wine!! Well one wine at one vineyard that doesn't ship to Texas, oh well. After our wine tasting we went to downtown Hermann and shopped at one of their many antique shops and then Kacie took was to the Custard Shop and I ate ice cream!!! My day was officially perfect!
(me and Kacie at the wheel thing on the Missouri River)

After our day in Hermann we went back to Tim and Kacie's house they have the best view ever!!! We ate bratwurst and grilled veggies! And for dessert Strawberry Shortcake!!! Again I will say it my day was perfect!!!!! (well it would have been better if Tim had grilled me that chicken breast!! Love you Tim)

The ladies drove back to Macon and the boys spent the night and continued there trek through Missouri on Wednesday. Aven, my little buddy, came over to hang out. He is Danny and Cindy's number 3. He is super cute. He taught me to say "Holy Macaroni and Cheese" and I laughed all day when he would say "What the hAAck!" He's too cute. Here he is...( Sorry this is the only picture I got of him. I tried to take a picture with him but he refused, apparently I am not cool enough to take a picture with)

On Thursday we went to the cabin, Uncle Dummie grilled.... yep you guessed it Bratwurst (sure wish I liked those things) and burgers! We had fun playing cards and hanging out.

Things I learned at the cabin...
1. There is no cell reception unless you stand in one spot and don't move, breathe, or talk, which is complicated when you are trying to verbally give someone directions to the cabin.
2. It is gorgeous out there on Bloomberg Lake!
3. DoDo does NOT buy anything when playing Hand and Foot.
4. Never sit next to DoDo when playing Hand and Foot.
5. And Lana is intense when it comes to Hand and Foot.

Friday night the ladies and I went back to Danny and Cindy's to hear their band practice. These were my tweets from that night....

Listening to my cousin's band play... I'm waiting to amazed by their amazingness!!!!

30 seconds into their first song and I'm officially amazed!!!

They were great!!!! If you are in Macon on June 30, or something like that, you should go listen to them play!!!

We had a great time and miss them already!!!

I am now going to show you way to many pictures but this for my sister-in-law who didn't get to come. Love you I.V.This is Bret, Dan and Cindy's #2. He's cute, sweet and 8. I love him!!
Here is DoDo's cake!


Here is Danny and Natalie (#4) She's adorable, she will like me one day, she sounds like a little lamb "maaa", which is adorable. I love her! Danny, he's my cousin, he's funny well sometimes, he is a great dad, he will come to visit my one day, I love him!


This is my mom! She is amazing, she is a great person, I love her!
Sheri, Uncle Dummie, DoDo, and Mom, I love them all!
This is my cousin Tammy, I love her too!
This is me and Cindy, she is amazing, she is a great mom, she is an amazing singer, I don't remember her not being my cousin, she will come to visit me, I love her!
This is my Aunt Sheri and Uncle Bernie, I love them!
Kacie, Matt, Chase, Danny, Cindy, Natalie, I love all of them!
Becca, my cousin Tim, me, and Kacie, they are cool, fun and awesome. I love them too! Thanks for letting us come to your house!!!

This is DoDo and Tammy. All of these pictures are from her, thanks for sharing Tammy! I love her!

And that was our week in Missouri....